A project template is a compressed archives with specific contents. Every template needs a description file with the same base name as the archive itself, and an extension <tt>.kdevtemplate</tt>. Other files are treated as template contents and will be present in the generated project.

+

A project template is a compressed archives with specific contents. Every template needs a description file with the same base name as the archive itself, and an extension <tt>.kdevtemplate</tt>. Optionally there can also be an image file which will be used as preview or symbolic display with the description (preferred size: 200 pixels width). Other files are treated as template contents and will be present in the generated project.

The directory structure within the archive can be similar to this

The directory structure within the archive can be similar to this

Line 9:

Line 9:

{{Input|1=<nowiki>

{{Input|1=<nowiki>

my_template.tar.bz2

my_template.tar.bz2

−

|-- my_template.kdevtemplate

+

+-- my_template.kdevtemplate

+

+-- my_template.png

|-- src/

|-- src/

| |-- CMakeLists.txt

| |-- CMakeLists.txt

Line 32:

Line 33:

</nowiki>}}

</nowiki>}}

−

The <tt>.kdevtemplate</tt> description file was removed, as it is used to describe the template, not the resulting project. Other files have been copied from the archive to the project folder. Variables in files names have been replaced with their values. Although not visible from the file structure, variables in the files' contents have been replaced as well.

+

The <tt>.kdevtemplate</tt> description file was removed, as it is used to describe the template, not the resulting project. The same was done to the file <tt>my_template.png</tt> (which is referred to from the description file). Other files have been copied from the archive to the project folder. Variables in files names have been replaced with their values. Although not visible from the file structure, variables in the files' contents have been replaced as well.

=== Variables ===

=== Variables ===

−

Project templates in '''KDevelop''', just like in '''KAppTemplate''', use [http://api.kde.org/4.8-api/kdelibs-apidocs/kdecore/html/namespaceKMacroExpander.html KMacroExpander] to substitute variable placeholders with their real values. This means that when generating a project, strings of the form %{VARIABLE_NAME} will be replaced with the value of VARIABLE_NAME.

+

Project templates in '''KDevelop''', just like in '''KAppTemplate''', use [https://api.kde.org/frameworks/kcoreaddons/html/namespaceKMacroExpander.html KMacroExpander] to substitute variable placeholders with their real values. This means that when generating a project, strings of the form <tt>%{VARIABLE_NAME}</tt> will be replaced with the value of <tt>VARIABLE_NAME</tt>.

The recognized variables in '''KDevelop''' are

The recognized variables in '''KDevelop''' are

Line 76:

Line 77:

=== Description file structure ===

=== Description file structure ===

−

Template description files, with the extension of <tt>.kdevtemplate</tt>, follow the freedesktop.org desktop file specification. They are quite simple, with a single category, and four entries.

+

Template description files, with the extension of <tt>.kdevtemplate</tt>, follow the freedesktop.org desktop file specification. They are quite simple, with a single category, and three required entries (Name, Comment, Category) and two optional (ShowFilesAfterGeneration, Icon).

−

Here is an example template description file

+

Here is an example template description file:

<syntaxhighlight lang="ini">

<syntaxhighlight lang="ini">

Line 84:

Line 85:

Name=Simple C++ application

Name=Simple C++ application

Comment=An example C++ application, showing the features of templates for project generation.

Comment=An example C++ application, showing the features of templates for project generation.

−

ShowFilesAfterGeneration=%{PROJECTDIR}/src/%{APPNAMELC}.cpp

+

Icon=SimpleApp.png

−

Category=KDE/Examples

+

ShowFilesAfterGeneration=src/%{APPNAMELC}.cpp

+

Category=Qt/Examples

</syntaxhighlight>

</syntaxhighlight>

−

The name and comment can be translated, as they are in all <tt>.desktop</tt> files, by appending locale-specific identifier to the keys. The other two entries are read by '''KDevelop''' and are used mainly for user convenience. If a ShowFileAfterGeneration key entry is present, the specified file is opened after the project is created. The Category serves to better divide templates in a tree view for selection. It can contain any number of levels, separated by slashes, but it is recommended to always use two levers for consistency.

+

The Name and Comment entries can be translated, like they are in all <tt>.desktop</tt> files, by appending locale-specific identifier to the keys. The other three entries are read by '''KDevelop''' and are used mainly for user convenience. The entry Category serves to better divide templates in a tree view for selection. It can contain any number of levels, separated by slashes, but it is recommended to always use two levers for consistency.

+

If a ShowFilesAfterGeneration entry is present, the specified files are opened after the project is created. If an Icon entry is present, the specified file will be used as preview image and not copied into the generated sources.

=== CMake macro ===

=== CMake macro ===

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=== Using the templates ===

=== Using the templates ===

−

Instructions for starting a new project from a template are avaliable in the Userbase section [http://userbase.kde.org/special:myLanguage/KDevelop4/Manual/Setting_up_a_new_project_from_scratch Setting up a new project]. If you installed the template using a CMake script, it should be picked up by '''KDevelop''' immediately (or after running <tt>kbuildsycoca4</tt>).

+

Instructions for starting a new project from a template are avaliable in the Userbase section [http://userbase.kde.org/special:myLanguage/KDevelop4/Manual/Setting_up_a_new_project_from_scratch Setting up a new project]. If you installed the template using a CMake script, it will be picked up by '''KDevelop''' immediately when you (re-)open the "Create New Project" dialog.

Latest revision as of 14:47, 1 May 2017

Under Construction

This is a new page, currently under construction!

Contents

File structure

A project template is a compressed archives with specific contents. Every template needs a description file with the same base name as the archive itself, and an extension .kdevtemplate. Optionally there can also be an image file which will be used as preview or symbolic display with the description (preferred size: 200 pixels width). Other files are treated as template contents and will be present in the generated project.

The .kdevtemplate description file was removed, as it is used to describe the template, not the resulting project. The same was done to the file my_template.png (which is referred to from the description file). Other files have been copied from the archive to the project folder. Variables in files names have been replaced with their values. Although not visible from the file structure, variables in the files' contents have been replaced as well.

Variables

Project templates in KDevelop, just like in KAppTemplate, use KMacroExpander to substitute variable placeholders with their real values. This means that when generating a project, strings of the form %{VARIABLE_NAME} will be replaced with the value of VARIABLE_NAME.

The recognized variables in KDevelop are

Variable name

Description

Example value

APPNAME

The application name, specified when starting a project

Example

APPNAMELC

The application name in lowercase

example

APPNAMEUC

The application name in uppercase

EXAMPLE

APPNAMEID

The application name with all non-alphanumeric characters replaced with undescores. Useful for identifiers.

Example

PROJECTDIR

Absolute path to the directory where the project is being created

/home/<user>/projects/Example

PROJECTDIRNAME

The name of the directory where the project is being created

Example

VERSIONCONTROLPLUGIN

The version control plugin, chosen in the assistant dialog

kdevgit, kdevsvn, kdevcvs, or empty of no version control was selected

Description file structure

Template description files, with the extension of .kdevtemplate, follow the freedesktop.org desktop file specification. They are quite simple, with a single category, and three required entries (Name, Comment, Category) and two optional (ShowFilesAfterGeneration, Icon).

The Name and Comment entries can be translated, like they are in all .desktop files, by appending locale-specific identifier to the keys. The other three entries are read by KDevelop and are used mainly for user convenience. The entry Category serves to better divide templates in a tree view for selection. It can contain any number of levels, separated by slashes, but it is recommended to always use two levers for consistency.
If a ShowFilesAfterGeneration entry is present, the specified files are opened after the project is created. If an Icon entry is present, the specified file will be used as preview image and not copied into the generated sources.

CMake macro

Keeping source code in compressed archives is an inconvenience, both for version control systems and for users when trying to edit these templates. For that reason, KDevPlatform includes a convenience CMake macro that compresses and installs a directory as a template archive.

For instance, a number of templates can be kept in a directory structure such as this

Note that kdevplatform_add_app_templates also adds the templates to the list of install targets, so you do not have to install them yourself. They are installed into a directory where KDevelop will detect and load them.

Using the templates

Instructions for starting a new project from a template are avaliable in the Userbase section Setting up a new project. If you installed the template using a CMake script, it will be picked up by KDevelop immediately when you (re-)open the "Create New Project" dialog.